George W. Bush Presidential Center dedication

The George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, dedicated April 25, 2013.

The 226,000-square-foot center, home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum along with the 43rd president's policy institute, is not far from the Bushes' Dallas home. Former first lady Laura Bush wanted to make sure that the George W. Bush Presidential Center reflected her and her husband's Texas roots. And it does, right down to the foundation that includes limestone from the Midland area where they lived when they were first married.

The Bush library, with more than 70 million pages of paper records, 43,000 artifacts, 200 million emails and four million digital photographs, is the 13th presidential library in the National Archives and Records Administration system.

The library opens to the public on May 1, 2013.

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Former President George H.W. Bush shares a moment of levity with his son, former President George W. Bush during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, in Dallas, April 25, 2013.

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U.S. President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former President George H.W. Bush and former President Jimmy Carter attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013 in Dallas, Texas.

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Former President George H.W. Bush, wears pink socks, at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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President Barack Obama stands with former presidents, from second from left, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney attends the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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First lady Michelle Obama, former first lady Laura Bush, former first lady Hillary Clinton, former first lady Barbara Bush and former first lady Rosalynn Carter attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and former President George W. Bush's daughter Jenna Bush Hager, participate in the singing of "God Bless America" at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, April 25, 2013.

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A moment of reflection: first lady Michelle Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama, former first lady Barbara Bush, former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center April 25, 2013.

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Jeb Bush greats former British Prime Minister Tony Blair before a dedication ceremony at the George W. Bush Library and Museum on the grounds of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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Secret Service officers keep watch from a rooftop as guests arrive for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, April 25, 2013.

Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino stands with former NBA Houston Rockets player Dikembe Mutombo before a dedication ceremony at the George W. Bush Library and Museum on the grounds of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas April 25, 2013.

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President Barack Obama shares a laugh with former first lady Barbara Bush at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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Former President George W. Bush speaks during the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 25, 2013.

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President Barack Obama shakes hands with former President George W. Bush, as former President Bill Clinton applauds at right after Obama spoke at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, April 25, 2013.

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Former President George W. Bush hugs his wife, former first lady Laura Bush while President Barack Obama smiles on, at the dedication of the George W. Bush presidential library on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, April 25, 2013.

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Former president George H.W. Bush, left, applauds with Laura Bush after former president George W. Bush's speech during the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Dallas.

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The 9/11 terrorist attacks portion of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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A photo from Sept., 2001 of President Bush being informed of the terror attacks on the U.S. The images forms part of a display about 9/11 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

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Steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center are displayed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks portion of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Beams damaged at New York's World Trade Center during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 are seen on display during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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A pistol captured with Saddam Hussein on December 13, 2003, is displayed at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

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Former President George W. Bush's baseball collection is seen on display during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 201.

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President George W. Bush's baseball collection is displayed in the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 2013.

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A replica of the Oval Office is seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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A recreation of the White House Oval Office is seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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The view as seen from a replica of the Resolute desk, in a recreation of the White House Oval Office during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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A lion presented to President George W. Bush by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete during Bush's trip to Africa in 2008 is seen on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Statues of Barney, left, and Miss Beazley, seem to look upon portrait of First Lady Laura Bush. The beloved Scottish Terriers of president George W. Bush and Laura Bush, are featured in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Busts of presidential pets Barney and Miss Beazley are seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Steel dog bowls with paw shaped feet given as a gift to President George W. Bush sit on display at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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The Hurricane Katrina exhibit is shown in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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An exhibit displaying various images of freedom and democracy are seen in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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The exterior of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. Former first lady Laura Bush wanted to make sure that the George W. Bush Presidential Center reflected her and her husband's Texas roots. And it does, right down to the foundation that includes limestone from the Midland area where they grew up and lived when they were first married.

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Statues of former Presidents George W. Bush, left and George H. W. Bush outside the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, April 24, 2013.

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Cowboy boots commemorating the time George W. Bush served as general managing partner for the Texas Rangers, are seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 2013.

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Memorial bracelets of captured or killed service members, given to President George W. Bush, are seen on display during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 2013.

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The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, dedicated April 25, 2013, on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

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Letters written from around the world and sent to the White House offering thoughts and prayers after the 9/11 attacks are displayed in the museum area of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas. The museum uses everything from news clips to interactive screens to artifacts to tell the story of Bush's eight years in office.

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Campaign memorabilia is shown in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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The main entrance courtyard at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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A football presented to president George W. Bush by the University of Texas Longhorns is seen in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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A display about the Bush administration's faith-based and community initiative is seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Docent Patricia Flynn demonstrates an interactive display with information about conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Displays on presidential policy are seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. is seen on a LED screen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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The U.S. constitution is seen on a LED screen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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The bullhorn President George W. Bush used at ground zero in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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Large screens display images and video of the events and days that followed the 9/11 terrorist attacks as part of an exhibit in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, Texas.

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A display about crisis management is seen during a tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.

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A display on the Bush administration's education reform is seen at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 2013.

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A display of presidential campaign memorabilia is seen at the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on April 24, 2013.